Schneider to pitch for Scots

Peyton Schneider pitches for the Hornets in 2013. Schneider will attend MCC in the fall and play baseball for the Scots. HML FILE PHOTO

Harvard High School senior Peyton Schneider knows what his future looks like. The three-sport athlete has decided to attend McHenry County College and play baseball for the fighting Scots. Schneider said he is looking forward to the opportunity to improve his playing ability.

“Hopefully, I can improve my pitching skills enough to take my talent to a [NCAA] D1 or D2 school,” Schneider said. “I’d like to work on my mechanics for pitching and become an all-around better baseball player.”

Schneider’s fastball currently is between 85 and 87 miles per hour. Schneider said he will continue to try to improve his velocity on his fastball through weightlifting, running, band exercises and long toss.

Schneider had interest from some NCAA D2 and D3 schools, but none that he was interested in attending.

“I couldn’t see myself going there, so I picked MCC because I felt it would help me to improve to get to the next level,” Schneider said.

Schneider was quarterback of the Hornets varsity football team the last three years. He also was a starting guard on the Hornets boys basketball team. He said he hopes focusing on one sport will expedite his improvement.

“I’ve always loved to play [basketball and football],” Schneider said. “But I’ve always wondered how good I would be if I just focused on baseball, so I really can’t wait.”

Schneider, who has pitched for the Hornets varsity team since his freshman year, has been honing his skill on the travel team Pro Player out of McHenry.

“Travel baseball is totally different from high school baseball,” Schneider said. “You get the best players from the area on one team, so you are playing with the best talent. … Playing in the travel league definitely improves your skill.”

Schneider said MCC head coach Jared Wacker sold him on playing for the school.

“He really drew me into MCC,” Schneider said. “I was thinking about not playing baseball at the next level, but he really made me believe that I could be a better baseball player and, hopefully, take my talents to a better university.”

Hornets head coach Donnie Nolen said going to MCC was the right choice for Schneider.

“He’s going to have to improve,” Nolen said. “He’s got good stuff. He’s got three to four pitches that he throws. He just has to command them a little better.

“[Going to MCC] is the right thing for him. I was hoping he didn’t start out too big and get left by the wayside.”